Affiliated societies
We are proud to support the work of university student physics and astronomy societies throughout the UK and Ireland and welcome applications from student societies that wish to become affiliated. Like us, university physics and astronomy societies can be the bridge that enables students to develop as people and make the most of opportunities at university better preparing them for their next steps, wherever that may be.
Why affiliate your society with the IOP?
We support physics university societies around the UK and Ireland by promoting and funding their events, offering advice and, where possible, helping to source speakers. Affiliated societies are key to our student community and it’s our mission to cultivate a thriving community of engaged students promoting physics in society for the benefit of all.
Societies can look forward to the following benefits:
- affiliation grant: we provide £150 to contribute to your society’s activities
- additional funding: for events that promote the wonder of physics and enable participants to gain experience and knowledge related to their studies and career aspirations. Additional grant funding of between £200-£1,000 can also be bid for
- support: advice, signposting and our presence at your events
- FUSE: the opportunity to attend the annual Forum of University Societies Events
- network: join a growing community of university physics societies
- trips: attend a range of networking events including trips to CERN, the UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the annual society’s forum organised by us and a host university from our network
- local community: involve your society in a broad range of outreach and engagement opportunities through the IOP’s student engagement work and local branch network
Affiliation
Check back for details on how to register via a survey (see guidance notes below).
- Once you have registered via the survey, we will review and process your application shortly afterwards and contact you by email. You will then receive further instructions on how to access support and resources and take part in society network activities.
Guidance notes for society affiliation
- Society affiliation is open to student physics, astronomy, and related societies (e.g. SATS, SEDS, IPAQS, etc.) in the UK and Ireland.
- More than one society from a single university may affiliate, provided each can demonstrate clearly that the specific aims or membership of the society are sufficiently different from any other societies at the same university. Main examples are separate physics and astronomy societies as well as undergraduate and postgraduate societies. Other cases will be decided upon by the IOP.
- In order to become affiliated, societies must complete an application. Two named contacts must be given; please ensure contact details are correct. Both contacts must be individual student members of the IOP.
- Affiliation is valid for one academic year beginning and concluding in autumn. Societies must re-affiliate each year. You can affiliate during the second or third term, but your affiliation will conclude at the beginning of the next academic year regardless. The society must contact us if either of the named contacts change.
- Affiliation is a prerequisite to apply for additional funding.
Affiliated Societies Framework 2024-25
A must-read guide for affiliated societies to unlock their potential and access IOP support this year.
Guidance on additional funding FAQs
We answer your queries about funding eligibility for IOP affiliated societies.
Contacts for additional funding applications
For more information on additional funding application guidelines and requirements, please email [email protected] or call: +44 (0) 20 7470 4917.
Affiliated societies
There are three tiers: bronze, silver and gold. University societies in the IOP network self-assesses their performance annually into one of the three categories, determining their status for the year ahead. The following table of societies shows the current status.
| Institution | Society | TIER |
|---|---|---|
| University of Aberdeen | University of Aberdeen Physics and Astronomy Society | Silver |
| Aberystwyth University | Aberystwyth University Physics Society | Silver |
| University of St Andrews | University of St Andrews Physics Society | Gold |
| University of St Andrews | University of St Andrews Astronomical Society | Gold |
| University of Bath | University of Bath Physoc | Silver |
| Queen’s University Belfast | QUB Physics and Maths Society | Silver |
| University of Birmingham | Poynting Physical Society | Gold |
| University of Birmingham | The University of Birmingham Astronomical Society | Silver |
| University of Bristol | University of Bristol, Chaos Society | Gold |
| University of Cambridge | Cambridge University Women in Physics Society | Silver |
| Cardiff University | Cardiff University Chaos Society | Silver |
| University College Cork | University College Cork Physics and Astrophysics Society | Silver |
| Trinity College Dublin | Trinity College Dublin Physics Society | Silver |
| Trinity College Dublin | Trinity Space Society | Silver |
| Trinity College Dublin | Trinity College Dublin Theoretical Physics Student Association | Gold |
| University College Dublin | University College Dublin Physics Society | Silver |
| Durham University | Durham University Physics Society | Silver |
| Durham University | Durham University Astronomy Society | Silver |
| University of East Anglia | University of East Anglia Physics and Astronomy Society | Silver |
| University of Edinburgh | University of Edinburgh Physics Society | Silver |
| Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh | Heriot-Watt Physics Society | Bronze |
| University of Glasgow | University of Glasgow Astronomy Society | Silver |
| University of Glasgow | Glasgow University Physics Society | Gold |
| University of Glasgow | University of Glasgow Optical Society | Silver |
| University of Hull | Hull University Physics Society | Silver |
| Lancaster University | Lancaster University Physics Society | Silver |
| University of Leeds | University of Leeds Physics Society | Silver |
| University of Leeds | Leeds University Rocketry Association | Gold |
| University of Leicester | University of Leicester Physics Society | Silver |
| University of Lincoln | University of Lincoln Maths and Physics Society | Silver |
| University of Liverpool | University of Liverpool Physics Society | Gold |
| Imperial College London | ICL Society for Women and Non-Binary Individuals in Physics | Gold |
| King’s College London | KCL Space | Silver |
| King’s College London | KCL Maxwell Society | Silver |
| Queen Mary University London | PsiStar (Queen Mary Physics and Astronomy Society) | Silver |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | Royal Holloway Physics Society | Gold |
| University of Manchester | University of Manchester Astronomy Society | Silver |
| University of Manchester | Nuclear and Particle Physics Society (NPPS) | Gold |
| University of Manchester | University of Manchester Physics Outreach | Silver |
| University of Manchester | University of Manchester Physics Society | Gold |
| University of Manchester | University of Manchester Particle Accelerators and Beams Society | Silver |
| Newcastle University | Astronomy Society | Silver |
| Newcastle University | Rocketry Society | Silver |
| Northumbria University | Northumbria Physics and Maths Society | Silver |
| University of Nottingham | Physics Society | Silver |
| The Open University | Fusion: The Open University Physics and Astronomy Society | Silver |
| University of Oxford | Oxford University Physics Society | Gold |
| University of Sheffield | Physics Society | Silver |
| Sheffield Hallam University | Sheffield Hallam Physics and Maths Society | Silver |
| South East Technological University | SETU Physics Society | Bronze |
| University of Southampton | University of Southampton Physics Society | Silver |
| University of Strathclyde | SCOPE: Strathclyde Student Community for Optics, Physics and Engineering | Silver |
| University of Surrey | University of Surrey PhySoc | Gold |
| Swansea University | Swansea University Physics Society | Gold |
| University of Warwick | Warwick Astronomy Society | Silver |
| University of Warwick | Physics Society | Silver |
| University of York | Physics Society | Silver |
We are currently affiliating societies and will regularly update the list in due course.